The Nationals took on a reeling Mets team this week and dealt them something of a death blow during a three-game sweep. Now they get to face a Brewers club that has lost six in a row and is on the verge of a complete collapse itself. Fortuitous timing on the Nats' part.

Davey Johnson will hope this recent string of stellar starting pitching (1.32 ERA over the last six games) continues tonight with Edwin Jackson, who got this run going last weekend against the Braves. He'll face a potent Milwaukee lineup that leads the NL with 116 home runs.

No changes to Johnson's lineup. He's found a combination that works, so why start tinkering now? They'll go up against right-hander Yovani Gallardo, who is having a strong month (2.13 ERA in four July starts).

I'm not at Miller Park for this season, but please keep the conversation going in my stead as always…

No doubt The Beast is well-appreciated by folks here and Nats fans generally, but I haven't seen him interviewed on MASN post-game (maybe I missed one?), highlighted by the media, etc., who focus on the pitching, Harper and Zimm, mainly. I guess I mean he's not being spotlighted, mainly due to other events, like Storen coming back, stuff like that.

Nattering, it may be that he's just getting overshadowed, rather than overlooked. Zim is lights out, the pitching staff is on a run, and there are just enough compelling story lines now that he's finally getting hot that he's just not getting the spotlight. Just a guess.

Henry .. there you go again. Why .. oh why are the Nationals so patient with this guy. Let someone else take the chance with Henry; if he makes good, so what. with the two runs given up on the monster shot to the camera well in cf, henry's e.r.a. has to be near 6.00 or higher.

HRod-Baby steps!!! Baby steps!!! His stuff is so electric…no way they get rid of him now. I usually don't advocate pitchers showing emotion, but I would love to see Henry get mad out there…anything but the deer in headlights look. If you are mad, it is hard to be afraid at the same time.

Leave it to Davey, and of course Oh Henry!, to liven up the back end of the game. If I were a Brewer, I'd be terrified to stand in, figuring if he doesn't know where it's going, how do I?But Davey's doing the right thing. Doubtful Henry's head can be straightened out this year, but you either deal him for something or hope that, like Hanrahan, if you hold on to him his head matures next year.

Gosh…..all the piling on poor HRod. Ya know he is 9 for 12 in save opportunities. In 26 innings he has given up only 16 hits while fanning 29. His problem….20 walks. But the way a lot of you people pile on the guy, you would think he was walking people on purpose.

No walks, a hit batter … and after the home run right down the middle … what would have been a wild pitch. But then he gets the come backer. Henry's working on it. Definitely, absolutely looks like a confidence problem. I hope psychologists Davey and Catty can work this out but perhaps this would be a job for Manny Acta who speaks Spanish and maybe trained in the area?

Why is it that Henry has no options left? I don't really understand the rules on that…Was he in the majors for a certain number of years with the A's?? Just wondering when his options were used if anyone knows…

In the feel good department — even for "the other guys"1. Henderson, for Brewers, 29 years old, *finally* makes his major league debut — pitches a 1-2-3 inning against the Nats.2. Mets, 23 year old Matt Harvey makes his major league debut. He starting, and, after four innings has allowed no runs, 8 K's, 3 H, 1BB, and has two hits himself.

This team has come so far since the night Werth was injured, he will be able to assume a role more similar to the one he had in Phila…Not as much weight on his shoulders, I think he'll play a lot better

@Swift Eagle — Henry played for the A's in the 2009, 2010 and 2011 seasons. Each player gets three option years. If any of those seasons didn't qualify as one of Henry's three options, Rizzo would have figured it out by now.